The lack of snow in the San Juan Mountains is a worrisome harbinger of the season to come for water managers and fire officials. The watershed basin that spans Southwest Colorado has only 66% of the median snowfall it has received over the last 30 years.
And while some are concerned for the future, the dry winter is an acute issue for Purgatory Resort, which has received less snow this year than it has in any season since General Manager Dave Rathbun started seven years ago.
Rumors circulated after Rathbun informed Purgatory staff members of changes meant to streamline operations and save money.
Publicly, the general manager is projecting confidence.
“We’re pretty bullish on still having a good season,” he told The Durango Herald, noting that the resort is outperforming the industry.
Texas spring breaks are spread out over three weeks this year, he noted in an email to staff sent on Feb. 28, which benefits the resort.
Internally, Rathbun laid out plans to respond to what he called a “very challenging” season, which includes shifting staff members around.
Year-round, management-level staff members are being asked to step into operations roles for a few hours a day or a full shift each week, Rathbun said. This is due to what he told staff was a “normal attrition” of employees as immigrant workers leave for school and early summer employment begins. These changes are “just doing more of what we’ve always done.”
The change up is “a good change of pace for those folks,” Rathbun said, as they “get to see different people, work with different people and be out with our guests.”
No one is getting laid off, Rathbun said, and whether employees’ hours are reduced is left “up to them.”
He also said he knew nothing about claims circulating on social media that the resort is in dire financial straits. Text allegedly copied from an email sent by Mountain Capital Partners management, which owns Purgatory, to the resort’s management is fabricated, he said, and he called some of the statements in it inaccurate.
Purgatory is, however, looking to refinance its primary business loan in an effort to lower its interest rates. He declined to share specific details of that effort, including how much capital would be needed. If the business successfully refinances, Purgatory hopes it can start work on capital projects, although Rathbun also declined to get into specifics on that subject.
“I’m very optimistic,” he said. “We don’t put our mind (to) some kind of initiative without having a plan to get there. So, that’s what we’re working on.”
rschafir@durangoherald.com
